NullPointerException on processing a nick change to a single character

[GinjaNinja32]

Exact line EiraIRC processed for the below trace is :XY!nyx@gn32.uk NICK X

MC stdout/stderr:

[20:02:30] [IRC (irc.sorcery.net)/ERROR] [net.blay09.mods.eirairc.EiraIRC]: Encountered an unexpected exception
java.lang.NullPointerException
        at net.blay09.mods.eirairc.irc.IRCConnectionImpl.handleMessage(IRCConnectionImpl.java:540) ~[IRCConnectionImpl.class:?]
        at net.blay09.mods.eirairc.irc.IRCConnectionImpl.run(IRCConnectionImpl.java:236) [IRCConnectionImpl.class:?]
        at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:745) [?:1.8.0_91]
[20:02:30] [IRC (irc.sorcery.net)/ERROR] [net.blay09.mods.eirairc.EiraIRC]: This crash report has been saved to: /home/nyx/ltm/crash-reports/crash-2016-06-14_20.02.30-server.txt

/home/nyx/ltm/crash-reports/crash-2016-06-14_20.02.30-server.txt:

---- Minecraft Crash Report ----
// Would you like a cupcake?

Time: 6/14/16 8:02 PM
Description: Exception in IRC Connection irc.sorcery.net

java.lang.NullPointerException: Exception in IRC Connection irc.sorcery.net
    at net.blay09.mods.eirairc.irc.IRCConnectionImpl.handleMessage(IRCConnectionImpl.java:540)
    at net.blay09.mods.eirairc.irc.IRCConnectionImpl.run(IRCConnectionImpl.java:236)
    at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:745)

A detailed walkthrough of the error, its code path and all known details is as follows:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-- System Details --
Details:
    Minecraft Version: 1.7.10
    Operating System: Linux (amd64) version 2.6.32-042stab113.11
    Java Version: 1.8.0_91, Oracle Corporation
    Java VM Version: Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (mixed mode), Oracle Corporation
    Memory: 205365448 bytes (195 MB) / 485490688 bytes (463 MB) up to 954728448 bytes (910 MB)
    JVM Flags: 0 total;
    AABB Pool Size: 0 (0 bytes; 0 MB) allocated, 0 (0 bytes; 0 MB) used
    IntCache: cache: 26, tcache: 0, allocated: 13, tallocated: 120
    FML: MCP v9.05 FML v7.10.99.99 Minecraft Forge 10.13.4.1614 33 mods loaded, 33 mods active
    States: 'U' = Unloaded 'L' = Loaded 'C' = Constructed 'H' = Pre-initialized 'I' = Initialized 'J' = Post-initialized 'A' = Available 'D' = Disabled 'E' = Errored
    UCHIJAAAA   mcp{9.05} [Minecraft Coder Pack] (minecraft.jar)
    UCHIJAAAA   FML{7.10.99.99} [Forge Mod Loader] (forge-1.7.10-10.13.4.1614-1.7.10-universal.jar)
    UCHIJAAAA   Forge{10.13.4.1614} [Minecraft Forge] (forge-1.7.10-10.13.4.1614-1.7.10-universal.jar)
[...]
    UCHIJAAAA   eirairc{2.9.402} [EiraIRC] (eirairc-mc1.7.10-2.9.402.jar)
[...]
    Mantle Environment: Environment healthy.
    TConstruct Environment: Environment healthy.
    Profiler Position: N/A (disabled)
    Vec3 Pool Size: 0 (0 bytes; 0 MB) allocated, 0 (0 bytes; 0 MB) used
    Player Count: 0 / 20; []
    Is Modded: Definitely; Server brand changed to 'fml,forge'
    Type: Dedicated Server (map_server.txt)